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Evolutionary EnvyWe are clumsy beings. I watched a pod of humpback whales off the northern coast of Iceland earlier this week, including one breaching. The sight of a 45-foot, 70,000-pound creature hanging motionless for a split second in mid-air before crashing on to the water was breathtaking. But so is observing them, fairly close up, as they effortlessly skim the surface, breathing, preparing for their next elegant dive. This species was rarely, if ever seen in these waters until several years ago. Now, they tend to be prolific, likely due to warmer waters and the associated impacts on their feeding habits. I didn’t come here to contemplate climate change, but it’s unavoidable. Situated on the divergent boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, Iceland is geologically rich, generative and raw. As recently as 1963, an eruption formed a new adjacent island. This diversely dramatic land provides a stark reminder of the grandeur of our planet and the genius of Nature. By comparison, we struggle to live as gracefully and symbiotically with our environment, even as our often maladroit actions inflect the lives of so many other creatures.